Front brake pads Volkswagen Polo V sedan

The front brake pads on the Volkswagen Polo V sedan do most of the work in stopping the car. Therefore, the safety of the driver and passengers depends on their condition. This article will tell you about the design features of front brakes on cars produced in 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2021, 2021, 2021, 2019, 2021 and how to replace the pads yourself.

Front brake design features

The Volkswagen Polo V sedan was equipped with 3 types of calipers, designated by option codes 1ZE, 1ZG and 1ZC. They differ from each other in design and size. Because of this, brake pads also vary in size. They are shown in the table.

There are three ways to define an option code:

• using the VIN code,
• according to the PR-code table in the car’s service book,
• according to the sticker near the spare wheel niche.

Another method for cars manufactured before 2015: remove the wheel and inspect the caliper. If the inscription FS III is stamped on it and there are spring clips, this is code 1ZG. If there are no staples and the inscription VW AG is stamped, this is code 1ZE.

What non-original pads can be installed?

The market for non-original spare parts is very inflated today. Manufacturers from all over the world are engaged in the production of so-called analogues. Therefore, it will not be at all surprising to find alternative pads on the Volkswagen Polo made in China or Indonesia.

The quality of many of these spare parts, of course, leaves much to be desired, and purchasing them would not be a rational waste of money.

However, there are a number of reliable manufacturers that made a name for themselves many years ago and produce spare parts for a wide range of cars. Spare parts from such a manufacturer in some cases may exceed the cost of the original due to increased performance characteristics.

When producing parts for budget brands, the price of new products may turn out to be much more interesting than that offered by the machine manufacturer.

According to reviews from car enthusiasts who previously installed analog pads on their Polo sedans, it follows that the following manufacturers of brake system elements, in particular pads, have the most optimal price-quality ratio:

• TRW;
• Ate;
• Brembo;
• Ferodo;
• Remsa;

For example, brake pads with code 1 ZE from TRW can be purchased for an average of 1350-1500 rubles (article number GDB2027). 1 ZG pads from Ate (article 13046071112) will cost a little less, around 1200-1300 rubles. Analog brembo coded 1 ZC article P85075 are offered at an average price of 1700-1800 rubles per set.

When is it recommended to change

According to the maintenance regulations, regular replacement of consumables is not provided. It is only recommended to check the condition every 15 thousand kilometers.

Signs that require replacing the front brake pads on a Volkswagen Polo V sedan:

• signal from an electronic or acoustic wear sensor;
• the thickness of the friction lining on any of the 4 parts is less than 2 mm;
• there are traces of oil on the surface, chips or deep grooves that do not coincide with those on the disc.

Guide to replacing front pads yourself

To replace the linings you will need wrenches with a set of heads, flat and Phillips screwdrivers, jacks, and small wire.

Sequence of actions for replacing the front pads:

1. To avoid confusion about the correct position of the wheels, you should mark the direction of tire movement with a marker.
2. Loosen the wheel bolts.
3. We place wheel chocks under the rear wheels.
4. Using jacks, we lift the front part of the sedan and place it on a strong support.
5. We unscrew the mounting bolts and remove the front wheel. It is important to remember here that loosening the fastenings, as well as final tightening of the wheel, is carried out only on a car that has all four wheels on the ground.
6. If the sedan has a sensor that monitors lining wear, it should be disconnected by disconnecting the plug connector.
7. We insert a flat-head screwdriver between the block and the wheel piston and lightly push the piston into the cylinder.

Then use a screwdriver to pry off the bushing covers covering the guide pins and carefully remove the caps.

First we unscrew the lower pin of the caliper and take it out.

We do the same with the second finger.

We carefully examine the condition of both the protective bushings and the fingers themselves. If there is damage, the parts must be replaced. If the caliper moves unsatisfactorily relative to the guide, the threads of the mechanism should be lubricated with a special greasy material.

We remove the brake caliper and hang it on a piece of wire. There is no need to disconnect the hose. To avoid problems with the performance of the brake system in the future, make sure that the caliper does not hang down and that the hose does not twist or stretch.

We take out the outer and inner blocks.

Then we remove the inner lining, overcoming the resistance of the spring retainer in the cavity of the mechanism. Do not press the brake pedal under any circumstances. Otherwise, the piston will fly out of the caliper and you will have to go to the service center for reinstallation.

• We examine the condition of the brake discs. If there are grooves on the surface, they can be ground off using the services of a technical service. The thickness of both disks on the front wheels should be the same. Clean discs only with an alcohol solution. Do not use mineral oils or sharp tools. There may also be traces of adhesive left on the devices. They should also be thoroughly washed off with a cloth soaked in alcohol.
• We analyze the condition of the brake cylinder piston cuff. If there are deep cracks, the element must be replaced. To check the piston stroke, you can use a wooden block: place a piece in the caliper and ask an assistant to lightly depress the brake pedal. The mechanism must operate smoothly in the cylinder. If movement is difficult, the device can be taken into the hands of specialists for repair.
• Carefully, in order to avoid distorting the piston and damaging the cuff, press the piston into the brake cylinder.

• We install new pads in the caliper and release the piston.
• We put the protective caps back on the fingers.
• Reconnect the plug from the wear sensor.
• We mount the wheels in place and tighten them with bolts.
• We depress the brake pedal several times so that the pads take a central position and move towards the discs.
• Checking the brake fluid level. If necessary, add solution to the tank.

To increase the efficiency of the brake system, the pads should be “warmed up”. To do this, we accelerate the car to 80 km/h and lightly press the pedal to brake to 40 km/h. We carry out the procedure several times, taking short breaks between “warm-ups”. If you brake too hard, carbon deposits can form on the surface of the discs, which will negatively affect the performance of the pads. In order for the new devices to break in well, you will need to travel about 200 km.

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Finally, check the tightness of the brake hose and bleeder valves. To do this, you need to start the car and hold the brake pedal for 10 seconds with a force of about 25 kg.

Finally, it should be remembered that the reliable operation of all components of the brake system on the Polo sedan is the key to the safety of the driver, passengers and surrounding people.

Catalog numbers (articles)

The question of which pads are best installed on the Volkswagen Polo V sedan can be answered unequivocally - only analogues, namely products from ATE or TRW. Their price per set is 2-3 times less than the original ones, but the resource is the same.

Article numbers of original pads

The originals are indicated in the spare parts catalog with the following codes:

Analogue articles for caliper 1ZE

Analogue articles for caliper 1ZG

Analogue articles for caliper 1ZC

What else will you need to purchase to replace it?

To replace the pads, you may need some brake fluid, since after bleeding the brakes, its level may decrease slightly.

For faster lapping and running-in of new pads, you can use brake lubricant. But the main thing here is not to confuse it and not to apply it to the working surface of the pads. In this case, the effectiveness of the braking system will drop to a critical level, which is fraught with negative consequences.

For immediate replacement, a pair of cloth gloves will not hurt.